Process for the continuous manufacture of sausages

ABSTRACT

A process and apparatus for the continuous manufacture of food products such as sausages is provided which eliminates the need for intermediate stuffing of the food product into casings which are discarded prior to final packaging. The preferred apparatus of the invention includes first and second heated rollers ( 16, 17 ) each presenting a plurality of elongated, axially aligned channels or recesses ( 18,20 ) which are circumferentially and axially spaced on the corresponding rollers ( 16, 17 ); in addition, the second roller ( 17 ) includes a series of elongated, continuous, tube-receiving openings ( 22 ) extending between each series of aligned openings ( 20 ). Mechanisms ( 28, 29 ) are associated with the rollers ( 16, 17 ) in order to continuously feed elongated synthetic resin sheets ( 34, 35 ) into the nip between the rollers ( 16, 17 ). Rollers ( 24, 27 ) are provided for forcing portions of the sheets ( 34,35 ) into the recesses ( 18,20 ) and openings ( 22 ) prior to passage of the sheets ( 34,35 ) between the rollers ( 16, 17 ) where they are longitudinally heat sealed together to continuously form elongated, aligned food-receiving cavities ( 48 ). A plurality of feeding tubes ( 11 ) extend through the rollers ( 16, 17 ) and are located within the corresponding openings ( 22 ) and recesses ( 20 ) during rotation of the rollers ( 16, 17 ). The tubes ( 11 ) continuously direct the flowing food material into the cavities ( 48 ), the latter being transversely heat sealed via transverse sealing bars ( 60, 60 ′) to form complete, enclosed food packages.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to a novel process for the continuousmanufacture of sausages, to a machine for carrying out said process andto the product thus obtained.

The process and machine of the instant invention may be used formanufacturing and packaging different varieties of sausages in themarket, and in a preferred embodiment, the process and machine of theinvention is used for manufacturing the known German sausages or of thefrankfurter type.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Prior Art

At present, it is known that stuffed food, particularly sausages, arestuffed into a tripe or synthetic material (plastics) tube which thenhave to be “peeled” in order that the sausage may be packed.

Known processes are comparatively expensive and time consuming, sincethey require steps that are deleted by the use of the method of theinvention. In fact, summarizing the present operation, the food materialis stuffed into a very long synthetic tripe compacted into a cartridgeand, once stuffed with paste, it is twisted in pre-determined regions toform a string of independent sausages, of a determined length, which arehung in cooking conveyors. After this operation, sausages are let tocool in order to subject them to the action of the peeling machines.I.e., the plastic sheath or casing (tripe) is removed for the finalvacuum packaging thereof.

Known processes for manufacturing skinless stuffed food materialsrequire four machines, namely: a) stuffer; b) twister and cooler; c)peeler and d) packager. Between the twisting and peeling steps, stuffsuch as sausages, large sausages, etc. are cooked. After cooking, theproduct is passed to the cooler and peeler, then conveyed to thepackaging machine. Once packaging is ready, sausages are passed to thedelivery section.

Due to the features of the known manufacturing process, a loss of about8% in raw material is produced.

This conventional manufacturing line requires a minimum space of twelvemeters long for the five processes mentioned, which results in animportant investment in building and machinery.

Further, another disadvantage of traditional methods is theimpossibility of obtaining absolute vacuum, due to the presence of asmall amount of air contacting the product, which makes it perishable ina short time due to pollution reasons.

Technology has developed new packaging processes, but these improvementstook place for packaging products in the form of granules, powder orliquids, wherein the quality control of the product to be packed iscontrolled by a dispenser device, and pressure exerted on a product toshape the package is not required.

Further, these processes are not continuous, but are of intermittentsequence. Therefore, their production capacity is seriously limited ascompared to a continuous process.

In the specific case of German type sausages packaging, the possibilityof a continuous process is difficult due to the cooking step, as well asdue to the fact that the sausage paste takes the shape of the package,which requires certain pressure in the packaging step. This pressure iswhat determines that the cross section of the package be rendereduniform and, consequently, the product weight constant.

Also, another disadvantage in the continuous process is the requirementthat the package forming the sausage is the final package directed toconsumers in order to avoid pollution of the product, in case suchproduct after being shaped and cooked is introduced into a finalpackage.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,239 discloses a process and apparatus formanufacturing German type sausages, which describes producing thesausage directly into the final package, which then allows cooking thesausage paste thus packaged.

However, although the mentioned process affords an improvement over theknown process, this process is of intermittent sequence and requiressynchronism between feeding of the portions forming the sausage and thetransversal closure means of the package. Since said patent does notshow the machine for producing said sausage paste portions of apre-determined size, it does not specify the way in which operationcontrol is carried out to attain synchronism of the package crossclosure means, we may consider this process inapplicable.

In fact, from the reading of the mentioned patent and drawings, it maybe seen that feeding tubes 1 extend between peripheral channels ofcylinders 14 and 15 up to the outlet port close to the molding means,comprised by rollers 4 and 5 which have elements transversely pressingthe tubular packing portions without sausage paste. The specification ofU.S. Pat. No. 5,053,239, also does not explain the way in which smallportions of sausage paste are passed through a feeding tube or the meansused in order that each sausage portion maintains a constant space withthe respect to the following one. Further, for the transversal sealingof the film, the process requires that such region be free of sausagepaste, this being an outstanding difference with the method of theinstant invention.

Also known is the system provided by Argentine Patent No. 228,903, whichcomprises a discontinuous feeding system. This systems operates byfeeding molding cavities between sheets which are longitudinally welded,but the cavities of which are communicated by minor channels, producinga zigzag travel between sheets, then the regions into which channels areincluded are sealed.

Several trials have demonstrated that it is very difficult to obtainproper operation of this process, since paste pressures and differencesin passage sections, as well as the zigzag arrangement produce at leastan effect braking displacement, which at least reduces production to nonprofitable limits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The process and machine of the instant invention afford the productionof stuffs in general, particular of sausages, in a continuous way, usinga single container which may be molded with the product pressure; thefilled container having a cross section and a longitudinal measure ofthe container.

In the particular case of packaging German kind sausages, sausagepackaging is attained without the use of synthetic tripe for shaping thesausage. This feature notably reduces the high cost of the conventionalmethod, since said tripe should have a high amount of requirements forshaping uniform skin sausages, without wrinkles. Therefore, the cost ishighly increased by the technology involved in manufacture.

The sausage is packed into the final package and then is subjected tocooking, which warrants non pollution of the product during theproduction process, and steps of tripe shaping and further peeling areprevented.

The pressure under which sausage paste is packed prevents anypossibility of air within the package.

Further, the process and machine of the instant invention has importanteconomic advantages, such as reduction of the costs of raw materialrequired for manufacturing by the elimination of synthetic tripe, whichis unavoidable in the conventional process; reduction of handlingoperations, since the sausage manufactured with the instant process andmachine, as will be seen below, passes to cooking and then, directly, todelivery; reduction of 8% losses produced in the conventional process,these losses being almost completely eliminated; an important increasein production yield, since the machine of the invention, operating at aminimum speed, affords four times the production of conventional plants.At a higher speed, production could be increased eight times withoutdifficulties. Further, the decreased surface of the production plant isalso important, since the invention is comprised by a single machine ofreduced size (2 meters), as compared to known machines requiring 12meters. A further feature is a higher production speed as compared toconventional machines.

The continuous process for continuous manufacturing of sausages of theinstant invention, is comprised by the following steps:

-   -   continuums feeding of a pair of sheets, one above and the other        below tubes feeding the paste forming the product to be        packaged, continuously forming at the upper sheet individual        molds for the product to be packed;    -   simultaneously forming at the lower sheet, individual molds        corresponding to the molds of the upper sheet, but connected one        to the other by cavities narrower than those of said individual        molds, the size of which allows for housing of feeding tubes;    -   tensioning the sheets at least at the sealing regions between        them;    -   longitudinally sealing the sheets on both sides of said        individual molds;    -   advancing said individual molds thus formed beyond the outlet of        said feeding tubes, closing under pressure the narrowest cavity        at the front region of the mold;    -   filling the product to be packed under proper pressure, in a        continuous way, along with the container of sheets shaped by the        molds;    -   pressure closing the narrowest cavity at the rear portion of the        individual mold thus filled in, closing in turn the front part        of the following mold, and    -   heat sealing the narrowest cavities closed under pressure.

Further, the machine for carrying out the process of the inventionconstitutes as additional object of the invention. The machine comprisesa pair of rollers, contacting in a parallel and tangential manner,driving corresponding thermoplastic sheet materials, one of said rollershaving means for shaping half of the individual molds of the product tobe packed, while the other roller is also provided with means forshaping half of the individual molds for the product to be packed, saidother halves being provided with means communicating one with the other,a device for feeding the product to be packed having a plurality offeeding means extending between said sheet materials, through thecommunication means of said other roller. Both rollers are provided withmeans for sealing planar joints of said sheet materials, means forcooling said planar joints at the outlet of said rollers and means forpressing and sealing the transversal joints of said individual moldsthus formed. At the outlet end of the machine, following said pressingand sealing means, there are means for cutting excess sheet materialfrom the packed product and means for wrapping said excess sheetmaterial.

According to a feature of the invention, means forming half of theindividual molds of the product to be packed at each roller, comprisechanneled surfaces formed as per cylindrical modular envelope portions,fixedly removable engaged to said rollers.

Further features of the object of the invention will be descriedhereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Taking into account the above mentioned objects, and related ones, theinvention will be described on the basis of construction and partscombination details, as disclosed in the following preferred embodimentof the invention, taking in connection with the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal section of the machine of theinvention, showing the process sequence, illustrating its generalconstitution and arrangement of the forming elements.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the machine showing the feeding and shapingupper rollers of the sheet material and conveying chains with weldingcross members, the first portion being shown in a partial section.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of both shaping rollers, seen from thefeeder of the product to be packed.

FIG. 3A is a perspective schematic view showing an embodiment comprisedby modular envelope sections for the channeled surface forming suchrollers.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 3A showing saidassembled sections for obtaining longer sausages.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross section of a front elevation of shapingrollers and feeding tubes arrangement.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross section of the contact of both shaping rollerswhen the corresponding channeled surfaces coincide.

FIG. 6 is a cross section similar to that of FIG. 5 showing coincidencebetween the cylindrical portions of both shaping rollers and the passageof the feeding tube.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the transversal mechanism for tensioningthe shaped sheet material.

FIG. 8 is a cross section of the upper and lower sheet material, afterbeing shaped, separated one from the other.

FIG. 9 shows an already shaped sheet material, filling thereof with thematerial to be packed and closure of the front end of the correspondingmolds.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross section of the finished package, containingthe product.

FIG. 11 is a detailed view of the machine showing one of the two jawsets forming the device for tensioning the sheets at the welding region.

FIG. 12 is a perspective front view of a tensioning device comprised byclamps wherein relative movement between jaws cause tensioning of thesheets before sealing; and

FIG. 13 is a partial cross section of one of said clamps of thetensioning device.

In the figures, the same reference symbols indicate the same orcorresponding parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT.

A substantially hollow head 10 wherein six nozzles 12 are provided, fromwhich six tubes 11 project for distributing the product to be packedcomprise the machine of the invention. Said head 10 is mounted on across member 13 rigidly connected to frame 14 of the machine, whichcomprises a pair of side brackets 15 between which a pair of shapingrollers, an upper roller 16 and a lower roller 17, are mounted. Theupper shaping roller 16 at the cylindrical surface is provided with aplurality of channels 18, which being six, extend about sixcircumferences of the upper shaping roller 16 and are spaced by regions19. Six channel 18 circumferences are provided on said upper shaperroller 16, matching with the distribution nozzles 12 in number.

Under the upper shaping roller 16 there is a second lower shaping roller17, having the same features as the upper roller, i.e., having channels20, which being six, extend about six circumferences of said roller 17and are spaced by cylindrical regions 21, which in turn havecorresponding channels 22 equal in depth to channels 20, which serve tohouse distribution nozzles 12, as explained below. Both shaping rollers16 and 17 have a tangential contact along their cylindrical surfaces,which are in front of nozzles 12 and distribution tubes 11, and aresynchronized in order that corresponding regions 19 and 21 match duringrotation of said rollers 16 and 17.

Cylindrical surfaces of rollers 16 and 17 are formed by various portionsof modular envelopes which, as a whole, have a development equal to thecorresponding cylindrical surface, which are designated with referencenumeral 16′ in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In said figures, only the upper shapingroller 16 is shown, and the description hereinbelow refers thereto.Nevertheless, this description also serves for the lower shaping roller17.

Channels 18 are formed in each modular envelope portion 16′, beinglocated as described. The particular feature is that at eachcircumference portion there are provided, separated by a single section19, a larger channel region 18a and a smaller channel region 18b, havinga blind end and the other end open towards the opposite straight edgesof the envelope sector 16′.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the arrangement allows two mountingpositions for obtaining two different lengths of sausages.

Between the distribution head 10 and the upper shaping roller 16, thereis a shaft 23, parallel to the shaft of said roller 16 and close to thepath of tubes 11, mounted on one of the side brackets 15 of the machineframe, such that it is resiliently collapsible with respect of thesurface of roller 16. Said shaft 23 has a series of six rollers 24,rotating therewith, the width and arrangement of which coincide withchannels 18 of the upper shaping roller 16 and are housed therein, dueto the resilient pressure of carrying shaft 23. Rollers 24 have a recess25 the length and depth of which coincide with the cylindrical regions19 of roller 16.

Between the distribution shaft 10 and the lower shaping roller 17 thereis a shaft 26 parallel to the shaft of said roller 17 and close to thepath of tubes 11, also mounted on one of the side brackets 15 of themachine frame. Said shaft 26 has, for rotating thereon, six narrowrollers 27, the width and arrangement thereof, matches with channels 20of roller 17 and channels 22 of cylindrical portions 21.

The first portion of the machine is completed with two sheet plasticmaterial feeding rollers for packaging the product; an upper roller 28and a lower roller 29. Between the upper feeding roller 28 and the uppershaping roller 16 there is a tensioning-guiding roller 30 and betweenthe lower feeding roller 29 and the lower shaping roller 17 there is atensioning-guiding roller 31.

Both shaping rollers, upper roller 16 and lower roller 17, have at theirends, at both side of the channeled surfaces, teeth rows 32, and 33,respectively, for maintaining plastic sheets 34 of the upper feedingroller 28 and sheet 35 of lower feeding roller 29 tensioned.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, tubes 11 made of flexible material passbetween the two shaping rollers 16 and 17, such that they are housed inchannels 22 of cylindrical portions 21 of the shaping roller 17.

Before entering and passing through shaping rollers 16 and 17, tubes 11pass through a housing 36, which is connected to a forced air source(not shown), which will be described below.

It is important to note that the upper shaping roller 16 is heated, suchthat its temperature allows softening and deformation of the upper sheet34, within channels 18, by the action of rollers 24, such that in saidsheet part of the package is pre-formed or molded, before fillingthereof. The same happens with shaping roller 17, sheet 35 and channels20, except in that at the ends of mold 50 forming the body of theproduct to be packed, narrower passages are formed, the size of whichcorrespond to that of tubes 11 and channels 22.

On the other side of shaping rollers 16 and 17, at the outlet of sheetmaterial 35 and 34, there is a roller 37 for pressing longitudinaljoints 52 of sheets 34 and 35, parallel to the shaping roller 16, at theside of molds 50 formed by rollers 16 and 17, the width of which isequal to the space between channels 18 of roller 16.

Parallel to the shaping roller 17 and beneath pressing roller 37, thereis a cooling roller 38 on which sheets 34 and 35, already shaped, bearto obtain cooling of longitudinal joints 52.

At both sides of the path or travel of sheets 34 and 35, already joinedby welding of longitudinal joints 52, between molds 50, shaped inchannels 20 and 22, i.e., forward pressing roller 37 and cooling roller38, there is a pair of mechanisms 39 effecting transversal tension withrespect to sheets 34 and 35. Said mechanisms 39, shown in FIG. 2 and inFIG. 7 in more detail, are comprised by a lower fixed roller 40 mountedwith free rotation on a support 41, such that roller 40 be outwardlyinclined in an angle and in the direction of advancement of sheets 34and 35.

Matching with roller 40 and thereabove, there is a pressing roller 42which holds sheets 34 and 35, this pressing roller 42 presses, by atraction spring 43, said sheets 34 and 35 in order to maintain them in atenionsed position, transversally and outwardly from their advance path.

The machine continues in a closure and cooling table, comprising a pairof conveying chains 44 and 45, having therebetween welding and pressingcross members 60 and 60′, which have pressing and welding elements 61,61′ made of an electrically conductive material for increasing thetemperature while receiving electric power.

Lower 44 and upper 45 conveyor chains are overlapped, such that thelower portion of the upper chain 45 overlaps the upper portion of lowerchain 44. At a certain distance from the inlet of sheet material 34-35to said conveying chains 44-45, cross members 60 and 60′ contact a plate47 connected to an electrical source (not shown), thus producing heatingof cross member 46-46′ during the path over which this is in contactwith plate 47.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a side arrangement for plate 47 and, therein, theends of cross members 60 and 60′ contact. Also, said plate may have atransversal location with respect to the forward direction of sheetmaterial 34-35 and, thus, parallel to cross members 60 and 60′; to thisend, each cross member has upper contacts 62, as shown in FIG. 12.

Pressing cross members 60 and 60′ are provided at the ends with meansfor tensioning the sheets before sealing them, thus avoiding problemsderived from imperfections or wrinkles which may be formed on saidsheets during operation, thus assuring perfect adherence without folds.Thus, at the ends of each cross member 60 of lower conveying chains 44there are corresponding free rotating toothed wheels 63, while at theends of each cross member 60′ corresponding to the upper conveyingchains 45 there are mounted toothed jaws 64. Each jaw 64 pivots on oneend around a shaft 65 and is tensioned by a spring 66.

When cross members 60 and 60′ are overlapped as shown in FIGS. 12 and13, the toothed surface of each jaw 64 of the upper cross member 60′ ispressed, by the action of spring 66, against the corresponding toothedwheel 63 of the lower cross member 60.

Tensioning means act on side edges of sheets 34 and 35 and, in order toallow them to act free without affecting the container 50, the regionmolded and sealed of the sheets is far from said sides thereof, thusforming corresponding side strips 51 of excess material.

At the discharge end of the machine there are means for cutting andwrapping said strips 51 of excess material. These means comprises a pairof circular knives 70 mounted in a transversal eye 71 acted by anelectrical engine 72 through a proper transmission 73. Strips 51 ofsheet material are guided by rollers 74 to corresponding coils 75 thatare mounted on a drive shaft 75 provided with a clutch (not shown).

As an example not limiting the scope of the invention, operation of themachine will be explained below, since the method is explained per se.

The paste for sausages is introduced under pressure through head 10 andthrough nozzles 12 to tubes 11, and in turn shaping rollers 16 and 17are rotated by means of proper mechanisms; therefore sheet 34 is fed toroller 16. Due to the heat received from said roller 16, sheet 34softens and is so deformed and molded with the shape of channels 18, byeffect of rollers 24, the shape of mold 50 being then maintained in saidchannels 18 by hot air blown from housing 36.

Simultaneously, at the shaping roller 17, the sheet 35 is deformed atchannels 20 through the effect of narrow rollers 27 providing a moldedcavity 53 in said sheet 35 matching with molds 50 formed in sheet 34,but which at both ends of molded cavity 53, form a smaller cavity 54,determined by channels 22 of cylindrical portions 21.

Consequently, at the outlet of shaping rollers 16 and 17 and aroundtubes 11, a receptacle 48 for housing the sausage paste has been formedbetween mold 50 of the upper sheet 34 and the molded cavity 53 of lowersheet 35. Rollers 37 and 38 determine welding of the longitudinal joints52 of said receptacles 18. Sheets 34 and 35, being connected at thesides by rows of teeth 32 and 33 of corresponding rollers 16 and 17,maintain the transversal tension and allow their deformation by means ofrollers 24 and 27, by virtue of the above described tensioning system,constituted by mounting of sheets on the side jaws 63-64 (FIGS. 12 and13).

After sheets 34 and 35 exit, with receptacles 48 shaped, collapsing ofthe smaller cavity 54 formed by rollers 27 on sheet 35 is produced, andsimultaneously filling of receptacles 48 with sausage paste is carriedout. Since the smaller cavity 54 is closed, paste is subjected to therequired pressure within receptacle 48. Collapsing of the smaller cavity54 is produced by abutment of cross members 60 and 60′ of correspondingconveying chains 44 and 45.

When receptacle 48 is filled with paste and under the required pressure,said receptacle 48 has advanced within conveying chains 44-45, thereforecollapsing of the smaller cavity 54 of the lower portion of receptacle48 is produced, and filling of the next receptacle 48 begins.

During advance of receptacle 48, with smaller front and rear cavitiesclosed by cross members 60, 60′, these contact electrical conductiveplate 47, producing an increase in the temperature of correspondingelements 61-61′, thus producing welding of sheets 34 and 35, in saidsmaller cavities 54, thus forming the sausage.

It is to be noted that collapsing of smaller cavities 54 by crossmembers 60-60′ is produced such that the paste is housed thereindisplaces from the center of both sides, for producing afterwards heatsealing of said smaller cavities 54.

The packed sausages advance to the outlet end of the machine, whereinthe means for cutting and wrapping excess side strips 51′ of the package50 formed by sheets 34 and 35 are located.

1. Process for the continuous manufacture of sausages, comprising thefollowing steps: continuous feeding of a pair of sheets, one above andthe other below tubes feeding the a paste forming the product to bepackaged, said sheets presenting sealing regions therebetween and eachof said feeding tubes presenting an outlet; continuously forming at theupper sheet individual molds for the product to be packed;simultaneously forming at the lower sheet, individual moldscorresponding to the molds of the upper sheet, but connected one to theother by cavities narrower than those of said individual molds, the sizeof which allows said cavities allowing the housing of feeding tubes,each of said individual molds presenting a front region and a rearportion; tensioning the sheets at least at the sealing regions betweenthem; longitudinally sealing the sheets on both sides of said individualmolds; advancing said individual molds thus formed beyond the outlet ofsaid feeding tubes, closing under pressure the narrowest cavity at thefront region of the mold; filling said individual molds with the productto be packed paste, under proper pressure, in a continuous way, alongwith the container of sheets shaped by the molds while continuouslyadvancing said individual molds; pressure closing the narrowest cavityat the rear portion of the one of said individual molds thus filled in,closing in turn the front a part adjacent to the front region of thefollowing mold, and heat sealing the narrowest cavities cavity closedunder pressure.
 2. Machine for carrying out the process of claim 1,comprising a pair of rollers presenting an outlet, which contact in aparallel and tangential manner, driving corresponding thermoplasticsheet materials, one of said rollers having means for shaping half ofthe individual molds of the product to be packed, while the other rolleris also provided with means for shaping half of the individual molds forthe product to be packed, said other halves being provided with meanscommunicating one with the other; a device for feeding the product to bepacked having a plurality of feeding means extending between said sheetmaterials, through the communication means of said other roller, bothrollers being provided with means for sealing planar joints of saidsheet materials, means for cooling said planar joints at the outlet ofsaid rollers and means for pressing and sealing the transversal jointsof said individual molds thus formed; at the outlet end of the machine,and following said pressing and sealing means, there being means forcutting excess sheet material from the packed product and means forwrapping said excess sheet material.
 3. Machine as claimed in claim 2,wherein the means forming half of the individual molds of the product tobe packed, of each roller, comprise channeled surfaces, which are saidchanneled surfaces being shaped in sections of modular cylindricalenvelope, and removable removably fixed to the corresponding rollers. 4.A process for the manufacture of a food product, comprising the stepsof: providing an elongated tube presenting an outlet end; providing apair of coacting rollers presenting corresponding outer surfaces and anip therebetween, each of said rollers including an elongated recessformed in said outer surface thereof, said recesses successively cominginto alignment with each other during rotation of the rollers, said tubeextending through said nip; continuously creating a series of alignedfood-receiving cavities formed of a deformable material about said tubeby passing a pair of deformable synthetic resin sheets into contact withsaid recesses and through said nip, and interconnecting said pair ofsheets, and sequentially moving the cavities past said outlet end; anddirecting a flowable food material through said tube and out said outletend in order to fill each of said cavities as the cavities pass saidoutlet end.
 5. The process of claim 4, including the steps of providinga plurality of elongated, laterally spaced apart tubes each presentingan outlet end, continuously creating respective series of alignedfood-receiving cavities formed of said deformable material about each ofsaid tubes, and sequentially moving each respective series of saidcavities past a corresponding outlet end, and directing a flowable foodmaterial through each tube and out the corresponding outlet end in orderto fill each of said cavities as the cavities pass said outlet ends. 6.The process of claim 4, including the step of pressing each of saidsheets into a corresponding recess in the adjacent roller, prior topassage of the sheets through said nip.
 7. The process of claim 4, oneof said rollers including a tube-receiving opening formed in the outersurface thereof, said elongated tube extending through said opening andrespective recess.
 8. The process of claim 4, including the step ofsealing said deformable material between said cavities after saidfilling thereof in order to create a series of enclosed, foodmaterial-filled packages.
 9. The process of claim 8, said sealing stepcomprising the step of thermally welding said deformable material. 10.The process of claim 8, including the step of separating said packages.11. The process of claim 4, including the step of exerting a tensioningforce on said deformable material during said process.
 12. The processof claim 4, said tensioning step comprising the step of passingcorresponding side margins of said deformable material throughrespective pairs of tensioning rollers.
 13. Apparatus for themanufacture of a food product, comprising: first and second adjacent,coacting, rotatable rollers each presenting an outer surface and with anip therebetween, said first roller including an elongated first recessformed in said outer surface thereof, said second roller including anelongated second recess and a tube-receiving opening formed in saidouter surface thereof, said first and second recesses successivelycoming into alignment with each other during rotation of said first andsecond rollers; a sheet feeding mechanism adjacent said first and secondrollers for continuously feeding corresponding first and secondelongated sheets of deformable material through said nip during rotationof said rollers in order to successively create a series of aligned,food-receiving cavities; an elongated tube presenting an inlet end andan outlet end and located between said first and second sheets ofmaterial and housed within said tube-receiving opening and second recessduring said rotation of said rollers; a food material feeder operativelycoupled with said tube inlet end for passing a flowable food materialthrough said tube and out said outlet end in order to successively fillsaid food-receiving cavities; and a cavity sealer operable to seal theends of said cavities to form enclosed food-filled packages.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 13, said first roller presenting a plurality ofaxially spaced apart series of first recesses in said outer surfacethereof, each of said series of first recesses including a plurality ofaxially aligned, circumferentially spaced first recesses, said secondroller presenting a plurality of axially spaced apart series of secondrecesses in said outer surface thereof, each of said series of secondrecesses including a plurality of axially aligned, circumferentiallyspaced second recesses, there being a plurality of elongatedtube-receiving openings formed in said second roller surface andextending between and communicating the second recesses of each of saidseries thereof, there further being a plurality of tubes each having aninlet end and an outlet end, each of said tubes being located within acorresponding tube-receiving opening.
 15. The apparatus of claim 13, theouter surfaces of said first and second rollers having said first andsecond recesses therein being removable.
 16. The apparatus of claim 13,said mechanism including first and second shapers respectivelyassociated with said first and second rollers in order to force portionsof the corresponding first and second sheets into said first and secondrecesses, and said tube-receiving opening, prior to passage of the firstand second sheets through said nip.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, saidfirst and second shapers each comprising an elongated shaft and a seriesof laterally spaced apart rollers mounted on each shaft, said rollersbeing located and configured for pressing said portions into said firstand second recesses and said tube-receiving opening.
 18. The apparatusof claim 13, said rollers including a sealing device operable tocontinuously seal together axially extending portions of said first andsecond sheets during rotation of the rollers.
 19. The apparatus of claim18, including a cooling device downstream of said rollers for coolingsaid sealed together axially extending portions of said first and secondsheets.
 20. The apparatus of claim 13, said cavity sealer comprising anelongated heat sealing bar extending transverse to the longitudinal axesof said cavities.
 21. The apparatus of claim 13, including a cuttingdevice for cutting excess sheet material from said packages.
 22. Aprocess for the manufacture of a food product, comprising the steps of:providing an elongated tube presenting an outlet end; continuouslycreating a series of aligned food-receiving cavities formed of adeformable material about said tube, and sequentially moving thecavities past said outlet end, said creating step including the step ofheating said deformable material and directing a pressurized gas againstthe heated material; and directing a flowable food material through saidtube and out said outlet end in order to fill each of said cavities asthe cavities pass said outlet end.
 23. The process of claim 22,including the steps of providing a pair of coacting rollers presentingcorresponding outer surfaces and a nip therebetween, each of saidrollers including an elongated recess formed in the outer surfacethereof, said recesses successively coming into alignment with eachother during rotation of the rollers, said creating step including thestep of processing said material against said roller recesses andheating the material, and directing said pressurized gas against saidpressed and heated material.
 24. The process of claim 23, said materialcomprising individual sheets of synthetic resin material, each sheetbeing pressed against a corresponding roller recess.
 25. A process forthe manufacture of a food product, comprising the steps of: providing anelongated tube presenting an outlet end; continuously creating a seriesof aligned food-receiving cavities formed of a deformable material aboutsaid tube and presenting opposed ends, and sequentially moving thecavities past said outlet end, adjacent ones of said food-receivingcavities being in communication with each other through a restrictedpassageway extending between the proximal ends thereof; and directing aflowable food material through said tube and out said outlet end inorder to fill each of said cavities as the cavities pass said outletend, said filling step comprising the step of filling each of saidcavities while the cavity being filled remains in communication with thepreviously filled cavity through said restricted passagewaytherebetween.
 26. Apparatus for the manufacture of a food product,comprising: first and second adjacent, coacting, rotatable rollers eachpresenting an outer surface and with a nip therebetween, said firstroller including an elongated first recess formed in said outer surfacethereof, said second roller including an elongated second recess and atube-receiving opening formed in said outer surface thereof, said firstand second recesses successively coming into alignment with each otherduring rotation of said first and second rollers; a sheet feedingmechanism adjacent said first and second rollers for continuouslyfeeding corresponding first and second elongated sheets of deformablematerial through said nip during rotation of said rollers in order tosuccessively create a series of aligned, food-receiving cavities, ablower for directing pressurized air against said sheets to generallyconform the sheets with said first and second recesses, an elongatedtube presenting an inlet end and an outlet end and located between saidfirst and second sheets of material and housed within saidtube-receiving opening and second recess during said rotation of saidrollers; a food material feeder operatively coupled with said tube inletend for passing a flowable food material through said tube and out saidoutlet end in order to successively fill said food-receiving cavities;and a cavity sealer operable to seal the ends of said cavities to formenclosed food-filled packages.
 27. A process for the manufacture of afood product, comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tubepresenting an outlet end; providing a pair of rollers presentingcorresponding outer surfaces and a nip therebetween, said tube extendingthrough said nip; passing a pair of synthetic resin sheets through saidnip, and forming a pair of continuous longitudinal seals between saidsheets on opposite sides of said tube; continuously passing a flowablefood material through the tube and out said outlet end thereof tosubstantially fill a region between said seals; and transversely sealingsaid filled region by pressing a transverse sealing mechanism againstthe outside of the filled regions at spaced locations, in order to formdiscrete food packages.
 28. The process of claim 27, each of saidrollers including an elongated recess formed in said outer surfacethereof, said elongated recesses of each of said rollers successivelycoming into alignment with each other during rotation of the rollers,and including the step of continuously creating a series of alignedfood-receiving cavities about said tube during said passage of syntheticresin sheets through said nip.
 29. The process of claim 27, one of saidrollers including a tube-receiving opening formed in the outer surfacethereof, said elongated tube extending through said opening.
 30. Theprocess of claim 27, said transverse sealing step comprising the step ofthermally welding said synthetic resin sheets.
 31. The process of claim27, including the step of separating said discrete food packages. 32.The process of claim 27, including the step of exerting a tensioningforce on said synthetic resin sheets during said process.
 33. Apparatusfor the manufacture of a food product comprising: first and secondadjacent rotatable rollers each presenting an outer surface and with anip between said roller outer surfaces; a sheet feeding mechanismadjacent said first and second rollers for continuously feedingcorresponding first and second elongated sheets of synthetic resinmaterial through said nip during rotation of said rollers, said rollersoperable to continuously form a pair of longitudinal seals between saidsheets on opposite sides of said tube; a food material feederoperatively coupled with said tube operable to continuously pass aflowable food material through the tube and out said outlet end thereofto substantially fill a region between said seals; and a sealer operableto transversely seal said filled region by pressing transverse sealingmechanism against the outside of the filled regions at spaced locations,in order to form discrete food packages.
 34. The apparatus of claim 33,each of said rollers including an elongated recess formed in said outersurface thereof, said elongated recesses of each of said rollerssuccessively coming into alignment with each other during rotation ofthe rollers, said rollers operable to continuously create a series ofaligned food-receiving cavities about said tube during said passage ofsynthetic resin sheets through said nip.
 35. The apparatus of claim 33,one of said rollers including a tube-receiving opening formed in theouter surface thereof, said elongated tube extending through saidopening.
 36. The apparatus of claim 33, said transverse sealing stepcomprising the step of thermally welding said synthetic resin sheets.37. The apparatus of claim 33, including the step of separating saiddiscrete food packages.
 38. The process of claim 33, including a devicefor exerting a tensioning force on said synthetic resin sheets duringsaid process.